Anti-rattling arrangement for body doors



Feb. 21, 1961 F. K- H. NALLINGER 2,972,164

ANTI-RATTLING ARRANGEMENT FOR BODY DOORS Filed Sept. 17, 1956 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Eli I1- INVENTOR FRIEDRICH K. H. NALLINGER ATTORNEYS Feb. 21, 1961 F. K. H. INALLINGER 2,

ANTI-RATTLING ARRANGEMENT FOR BODY DOORS Filed Sept. 17, 1956 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR FRIEDRICH K. H. NALL INGER ATTORNEYS United States Patent ANTI-RATTLING ARRANGEMENT FOR BODY DOORS Friedrich K. H. Nallinger, Stuttgart,. Germany, assignor to Daimler-Benz Aktiengesellschaft, Stuttgart- Unterturkheim, Germany Filed Sept. 17, 1956, Ser. No. 610,351

Claims priority, application Germany Oct. 13, 1955 2 Claims. (Cl. 1685) The present invention relates to an anti-rattling arrangement of motor vehicle body doors in which a plurality of wedging members with tapered surfaces are so arranged in the various parts as to assure complete freedom from rattle due to movement of the closed body in any direction.

In the prior art, arrangements for preventing rattling of vehicle body doors are known which consist, for example, of a cone and a spring-loaded countercone. However, these prior art arrangements accordingly have the disadvantage that they operate effectively only in one wedging direction.

The present invention, in contradistinction thereto, consists in that at least two wedge-shaped springy elements are provided, the direction of pressure or movements of which are disposed at an angle to each other,

preferably at 90 degrees to each other so that the closed door is securely retained in the vertical as Well as in the horizontal direction and is thereby effectively prevented from rattling. v

Appropriately, the complementary wedge-shaped elements are arranged in a larger numerical quantity of individual pieces, possibly also with springy double-wedged surfaces. However, elements with two wedge surfaces or pairs of wedge surfaces may be used, the effective wedging directions of which are disposed at an angle to each other, for example, 90 degrees to each other, so that under given circumstances already a single pair of complementary cone shaped elements sufiices to prevent the door from rattling in any direction. However, in order to provide a rigid guidance for the doors even with very bad roads, the Wedge-shaped elements are to be used also in that case in a larger numerical quantity.

Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide an anti-rattle arrangement for doors formed by the body, for example, of motor vehicles in which the door is effectively prevented from rattling due to movements in any direction.

A still further object of the present invention is to provide, by very simple means, an anti-rattling arrangement for body doors of motor vehicles which positively and effectively precludes any undesired vibratory or rattling noises of the door by the use of appropriately disposed complementary wedging members.

Another object of the present invention is to provide appropriately-shaped wedging members in suflicient numbers and arranged in a particular manner to prevent rattling of the door even with very bad roads.

These and other objects, features and advantages of the present invention will become more obvious from the following description when taken in connection with the accompanying drawing which shows schematically, for purposes of illustration only, several embodiments in accordance with the present invention, and wherein:

Figure 1 is a schematic plan view of a door, partially in cross section of an anti-rattle door arrangement with two wedge-shaped pairs of elements displaced at 90 'ice degrees to each other in accordance with the present in vention.

Figure 2 is a schematic, perspective view of a slightly modified, anti-rattle arrangement, generally similar to Figure 1, in which the spring support of the wedging members is applied to the complementary wedging members as compared to Figure 1.

Figure 3 is a perspective schematic view of another embodiment of an anti-rattle arrangement in accordance with the present invention.

Figure 4 is a perspective schematic view of still another embodiment of an anti-rattle door arrangement in accordance with the present invention, and

Figure 5 is a perspective schematic view of a still further modification of an anti-rattle door arrangement in accordance with the present invention.

Referring now to the drawing wherein like reference numerals are used throughout the various views to designate like parts, and more particularly to Figures 1 and 2, reference numeral 10 designates the schematically illustrated rigid body wall of the vehicle while reference numeral 11 designates the schematically illustrated door. The wedge-shaped elements 12 and 13 provided with wedging surfaces 14 and 15 are arranged at the vehicle wall 10 while wedge-shaped counterelements 16 and 17 with complementary wedging surfaces 18 and 19 are arranged at the body door 11. The wedging elements 12, 13, 16 and 17 are arranged in such a manner with respect to each other that upon closure of the door 11 in the direction of the arrow x the wedging surface 18 is brought into contact with the complementary wedging surface 14 and the wedging surface 19 with the complementary wedging surface 15 respectively.

In Figure l, the elements 16 and 17 of the tapered or wedge-shaped pair which are arranged at the vehicle door 11, and in Figure 2 the elements 12 and 13 of the cone or wedge-shaped pair which are arranged at the rigid vehicle body wall 10 are spring-loaded by means of springs 20 and 21. The wedging elements 16 and 17 or 12 and 13 are guided in the direction of spring movements thereof by appropriate guide means, for example, by pins 22 and 23 provided with abutment elements 24 and 25, for example, in such a manner that upon closing the door 11 in the direction of the arrow x the wedging elements 16 and 17 of Figure l or the wedging elements 12 and 13 of Figure 2 are displaced or lifted by the wedging surfaces 14 and 15 or 18 and 19 respectively in a direction approximately perpendicular to the latter against the effect of the springs 20 and 21 whereby the door is secured in one, namely the horizontal direction by the Wedge-shaped elements 12 and 16 as well as in the other, namely the vertical direction by the wedgeshaped elements 13 and 17. Each of the aforementioned guide means comprises further elements which are shown more particularly in connection with wedge element 16 of Figure 1. Here is shown a guide element 28 having a rectangular recess 29 terminating in an end wall 30 having an opening 31 therein through which extends pin 22. Wedging element 16 has a boss 32 slidably disposed in the recess 29 and connected to the pin 22, the latter carrying the abutment element 24 to limit the slidable movement of the pin in the opening 31. The spring 20 surrounds the pin and engages the end wall 30 and boss 32.

The horizontal and vertical directions before referred to are parallel to the outer surface of the door 11, this outer surface extending transversely of the direction of the door movement.

It is thus seen that the door 11 is positively prevented from rattling in the horizontal direction of closing and opening movement thereof as well as in the vertical direction perpendicular to this horizontal direction, and is,

3 therefore, prevented from undergoing-any"movements upon closure thereof in any direction which might result inrattling noises of the door. Figure 3 shows a modification of an anti-rattling body door arrangement in which the wedging surfaces 14 and of the elements 12 and 13 are inclined in such a manner that the line perpendicular to the wedging surfaces has a component in the vertical direction as weil as in thelongitudinal direction of the vehicle. The directions of movements of the elements 12 and 13 against the effect of springs and 21 may therebyform an obtuse angle to each other, as shown in the drawing.

Figure 4 illustrates another modification with a double sided wedge-shaped element 26 which is arranged and secured in any suitable manner, for example, at the door 11, and is provided with the two wedging surfaces 18a and 18b. These wedging surfaces 18:? and 18b are brought into contact upon closing of the door with the wedging surfaces 14a and 14b of the elements 12a and 12b Which are arranged at the frame and may displace the same against the effect of suitable springs 20a and 20b.

In the embodiment according to Figure 5, a wedgeshaped or tapered element 27 with the wedging surfaces 18 and 19 is secured at the door 11. The wedging surface 18 cooperates with the complementary wedging surface 14 of the countercone element 12 which is under the influence of a spring 20 while the wedging surface 19 cooperates with the complementary wedging surface 15 of the countercone element 13 which is under the influence of the spring 21. By the use of a construction according to this embodiment one of the Wedging elements arranged at the door may be dispensed with.

The present invention is not limited to the illustrated embodiments shown herein in a strictly schematic manner. For example, the embodiment according to Figure 5 may also be construed-in such a manner that the element 27 is provided with two opposite wedging surfaces 18 and 15 each, i.e., With four wedging surfaces. Moreover, the arrangement of one of the embodiments may be combined in any suitable manner with that of any other embodiment illustrated herein. Furthermore, the spring elements may be arranged in each case either at the stationary frame or in the door. Moreover, a similar spring effect may be obtained by the insertion of rubber elements or by the use of elements made of rubber which are so dimensioned as to possess spring characteristics themselves.

It is also understood that the anti-rattle arrangement in accordance with the present invention is in addition to the usual opening and closing as well as locking mechanisms, such as latch bolts, etc., ordinarily found in vehicle body doors.

While I have shown several embodiments in accordance with the present invention, it is understood that the same is not limited thereto but is susceptible of many changes and modifications within the spirit of the present invention, and I intend to cover all such changes and 4 modifications except as defined by the appended claims.

I claim: r

1. An anti-rattle arrangement for a door movable to a closed position in a door frame, said arrangement comprising a plurality of Wedging means, one of said plurality of wedging means comprising a first wedge-shaped element secured to said door and a movable secondwedgeshaped element supported by said frame for movement relative thereto, an inclined surface of said second wedgeshaped element being in engagement with a complementary surface of said first wedge-shaped element when said door is closed, spring means exterior of and engaging said second wedge-shaped element, said spring means applying a force to urge said second wedge-shaped element toward said first wedge-shaped element in a first direction extending transversely of said inclined surface, another of said plurality of Wedging means comprising a third wedge-shaped element secured to said door and a movable fourth wedge-shaped element supported by said frame for movement relative thereto, an inclined surface of said fourth wedge-shaped element being. in engagement with a complementary surface of said third wedge-shaped element when said door is closed, second spring means exterior of and engaging said. fourth Wedgeshaped element, said second spring means applying a force to urge said fourth wedge-shaped element toward said third wedge-shaped element in a second direction extending transversely of said inclined surface of .said fourth wedge-shaped element, said second direction being at right angles to said first direction, guide means for each of said movable wedge-shaped elements cor prising a guide element having a rectangular recess terminating in an end wall having an opening, each of said movable wedge-shaped elements having a boss slidably disposed in said rectangularrecess and connected to .said pin, said pin having an abutment to limit'slidable movement of said pin in said opening, and a spring. surrounding said pin and engagingsaid end wall and said boss.

2. An anti-rattle arrangement for a door according to claim 1, said door having an outer surfaceextending transversely of the direction of movement of said door. said first direction and said second. direction being substantially parallel to said outer surface.

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